South African Paralympian, Oscar Pistorius, on Monday, pleaded not guilty to charges against him as his trial over the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, started at the North Guateng High Court in Pretoria.

The trial was delayed by more than an hour because a language interpreter who was required for the first witness had to be located.

Earlier, Pistorius arrived at the court and walked past hordes of reporters into the court.

The man known as the ”Blade Runner” was accused of shooting dead his 29-year-old girlfriend, Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day last year.

Though he admitted firing the shots that killed her, Pistorius said he thought he was shooting an intruder.

Outside the court, there was a heavy security presence with dozens of policemen monitoring proceedings.

In the early hours of Monday, sniffer dogs were sent through the court buildings to ensure it was completely safe.

It was reported that numerous satellite broadcasting vehicles lined the Madiba Street outside the court, while a large airborne camera attached to a drone hovered above the building.

Pistorius, who was born with deformed legs, shot to international stardom when he outran able-bodied athletes.